UN: Somalia hit by worst famine in 20 years

THE United Nations has declared a famine in two regions of southern Somalia and that tens of thousands, the majority of them children, have already died.

Mark Bowden, humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, said southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle had been hit by the worst famine in the region for 20 years, and said it could quickly spread unless donors took action.

The UN is proposing “exceptional measures” of providing “cash relief” while it finds ways of getting larger volumes of food aid into southern Somalia, Bowden said. The UN is also appealing for $300 million over the next two months for Somalia.